Eagles Clinch East Title

LANDOVER, Md. — The Philadelphia Eagles guaranteed themselves a week off. There’s no telling what’s in store for the Washington Redskins.

In a dominating performance, Donovan McNabb completed 23 of 32 passes for 242 yards and three touchdowns and ran for another touchdown Saturday night in a 31-7 victory over Washington that clinched the Eagles’ third consecutive NFC East title.

Philadelphia (12-4) secured a much-needed week off to rest its battered roster, although running back and return man Brian Westbrook suffered an injury that might need longer to heal. The team’s leading rusher tore a triceps muscle when he was tackled by former Eagle Jeremiah Trotter on a screen pass in the first quarter.

Westbrook is scheduled for an MRI today, but his teammates are bracing for the worst. At least the Eagles have options, because Westbrook, Duce Staley and Correll Buckhalter have shared the tailback spot.

“It just means Correll and I need to pick up our play,” Staley said. “There is no question that he is going to be missed.”

Philadelphia will have home-field advantage throughout the NFC playoffs if St. Louis loses to Detroit today. Had Philadelphia lost, the Eagles might have been forced to play on the road next week as a wild card.

“It’s very big,” McNabb said. “You get a chance to refocus and get your mind right and also take care of some injuries that might have bothered us throughout the year. And just come back with a whole new different attitude.”

The Redskins (5-11) lost 10 of their last 12 and finished with their worst record since going 3-13 in 1994. There is rampant speculation over the future of Coach Steve Spurrier. After the game, an antsy Spurrier rebuffed a report that his resignation was imminent and said he plans to “let the dust settle a while” before announcing any plans. He faces a possible showdown with owner Dan Snyder over assistant coaches and personnel decisions, and he also has hinted that he needs to become a more discipline-oriented coach.

“There are going to be changes,” Spurrier said. “We’ve got to change something -- we know that.”